9/19/2011

Two Killed in Mexico over Gang-Related Social Media Posts

Watch what you say on the Internet, because it really could get you killed.

Two dead bodies were discovered hanging from a bridge in the Mexican town of Nuevo Laredo this week, accompanied by a placard with the message, "This is going to happen to all Internet snitches. Pay attention, I'm watching you." It's believed the two were murdered after speaking out about drug gang activity on a social media site.

While threats and violence against journalists is sadly not uncommon for those covering the Mexican drug war—more than 80 journalists have been murdered as a result of their coverage since 2000, according to Reporters Without Borders—this may be the first time that "civilians" have been murdered specifically for what they'd written online, a horrifying new development in an already terrible situation.